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Friday, June 10, 2011

Sugar Free Challenge Final Day

I kept meaning to post on this, but in my everyday rush I always forgot until after I had finished my post and was busy doing something else, like trying to avoid sugar! I have a very hard time with this challenge on multiple levels. This will brief since I have to leave for work in ten minutes, but here is a quick synopsis of the last nine days of the challenge.

Two small kids and a husband that love sugar. I can't believe how many times I popped a chocolate chip or piece of cereal in my mouth because it had been spilled on the counter. I did spit many of these back out.

I tried dried fruits like raisins and craisins for long run fuel, but didn't like it as well. It felt like I had no energy so I went back to my gels and GU chomps for my longer runs after 5 days, did I give up to soon?

The whole challenge did make me very conscious of all the sugar added to foods. Especially my favorites like ketchup and salad dressing, even added to bread.

I had about three days of complete no sugar and the rest have been very low sugar, except for the maple bar donut that I inhaled at work on Tuesday and immediatly regretted. It just smelled so good and I was so hungry. You would think nurses would know better than to bring in sugary fatty donuts for their co-workers.

I know that I will not stay with a sugar free diet, but I am making an effort to keep it much lower in sugar. I haven't missed adding honey to my oatmeal or whip cream to my coffee and I am going to stick to that. I am going to continue to not eat ketchup on everything and have found some great alternative salad dressings.

I will indulge myself with a little sweetness now and then so I don't panic and consume a large donut in two bites again. I did learn a lot from all the others, so thanks to everyone who did the challenge and thanks to Amanda for bringing it on. However it there were prizes for least sugar consumed, I won't win :)

There is reduced sugar ketchup! I found it the other day b/c Ryan is diabetic. Tastes the same. Also, I make my own ranch. (Don't know how much sugar is in the powder, but it's gotta be better than the bottled stuff, right?!)

BTW: You absolutely rock for going 3 whole days sans sugar. I bow down to you.

what i have learned about not eating sugar in ANY form is how much your body needs it and it is important to incorporate it into your diet! in healthy ways of course. ;) fruits and other natural sources are the best! our bodies need fuel, and a little sugar on a long run is exactly what your body needs! ;)

sugar is tough. it's hidden in so many things! i'm sure you can find no-sugar-added dried fruit but i know craisins have sugar in them. it's tough to be perfect at cutting it out so in my opinion making an effort to avoid the obvious sources is valiant enough :)

I think I'm lucky that my husband is NOT a huge sugar inhaler--he actually has very few food vices, lucky him (beer is the only one I can think of, and since I'm not a beer person this doesn't hurt me). So we just don't have it in the house.

Work is the real challenge for me, but I'm there less than I'm here and there's usually enough going on that I have been able to avoid the candy-bowl hotspots.